International Assisi Retreat — December 2022
Spiritual Awakening and Non-duality
A Retreat with Swami Atmananda Udasin
December 16-20, Assisi (Italy)
Saint Francis’ message of universal love, peace, tolerance and unity made him perhaps the most fascinating spiritual figure of the West in the last millennium. The Mahatma Gandhi exalted him as one of the greatest sages to have ever lived. His radiant presence is still felt today, as is the intense spiritual atmosphere of the small medieval town of Assisi where he lived at the turn of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.
Swami Atmananda invites us to join him in this auspicious setting to explore the nature of spiritual Awakening through the fundamental concepts of the Non-duality teachings. We will uncover and contemplate the universal Truth that lies at the centre of both Advaita Vedanta and Christian mysticism.
The deeply felt presence of the Poverello (the “Little Poor One”, as St. Francis was known) is an invitation to discover the infinite space of the Heart as our innermost Self. In this profoundly rich environment our spiritual search will naturally be enhanced, freeing our attention from the habitual tendencies of the mind, allowing it to return to the source of Awareness itself.
The 4-day Retreat will consist of conscious morning walks, group meditation sessions, and Swami Atmananda’s teachings followed by questions and answers.
The teachings will be alternatively in French and English with simultaneous translation into the other language.
We apologize, but unfortunately the Italian translation will not be available this time due to unpredictable circumstances.
The focus throughout will be on abiding in one’s inner silence in order to merge in the Energy field of sacred Assisi, which has long been recognized as a place of initiation and inner Awakening.
Arrival and on-site Registration check
Our team will welcome you on Friday, December the 16th at the Reception area of your chosen accommodation from 4:00-6:30 p.m.
We will check your registration to the Retreat, and you will receive a participation badge, which will be required to wear during the entire retreat.
After that, you can proceed for accommodation check-in at the reception desk.
Dinner will be at 7:00 p.m.
The Introductory Talk at La Cittadella Ospitalità will be held at 9:00 p.m.
Those who wish to do so, may arrive one day earlier, on Thursday, 15th, December, and spend some quiet time in contemplation on the holy places associated with the great mystic Francis of Assisi.
This extra stay will be in ‘half board’ (meaning from dinner, Thursday the 15th through breakfast, Friday the 16th), and may be booked directly in the Registration form. If you opt for an earlier arrival, please make sure to still attend the registration check on Friday afternoon.
Departure
The Retreat will end on Tuesday 20th December 2022, at 11 a.m. It is also possible to stay for lunch at 1:00 p.m. In this case, please specify it in the Registration form.
Venues
Satsang Hall
All Satsangs will be held at La Cittadella Ospitalità, Via degli Ancaiani, 3, 06081 Assisi (PG).
Most participants will sit on the chairs provided.
There will also be carpets for those who prefer to sit on the floor. In that case, please bring your own cushion if needed.
Accommodations
Participants will stay at either Casa Papa Giovanni or La Cittadella Ospitalità and will eat their meals where they lodge.
You can choose your preferred accommodation when registering. Most of the participants will stay at Casa Papa Giovanni, some at La Cittadella.
1 — Casa Papa Giovanni
Via San Paolo 32, 06081 Assisi (PG)
Phone: +39 075 812467
E-mail: casapapagiovanni@yahoo.it
http://www.diocesiassisi.it/casa-papa-giovanni-xxiii/
Google Map Link
2 — La Cittadella Ospitalità
Via degli Ancaiani, 3, 06081 Assisi (PG)
Phone: +39 075 813231
E-mail: ospitalita@cittadella.org
http://www.cittadelladiassisi.it/
Google Map Link
The two venues are located about 600 metres apart – that’s roughly a 10-minute steep walk through the small lanes and stairways of the beautiful medieval town of Assisi. If you have difficulty walking, we would therefore suggest that you choose to stay at La Cittadella to avoid walking back and forth twice a day.
Transport
You must arrange your own transport to Assisi. Our Transport information page provides some details on how to travel to Assisi by plane, train and car, including an option for carpooling.
Please make sure to arrive on time for the on-site registration check.
Cost for the 4-day Retreat
1 – Administrative fees: €25
This fee is used to cover the Association’s administrative expenses.
If you have already paid it at the time of pre-registration, please tick the related checkbox in the Registration form.
2 – Full-board accommodation: €240 per person
This price, which also includes the rental of the Satsang hall, covers your accommodation in a twin room and all your meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) from dinner on Friday, 16th to breakfast on Tuesday, 20th, December. All meals are vegetarian.
You will be able to specify your roommate in the Registration form. If you are coming on your own, a roommate will be assigned to your room.
The following accommodation options are available:
A – Twin rooms and few triple rooms.
Unless explicitly requested during registration, cohabitation will only be with participants of the same gender.
B – Single rooms
Around 15 single rooms are available.
Those at La Cittadella will have an additionnal cost of €40, to be paid directly on site.
Preference will be given to those with health problem.
3 – Membership in the Association
This Retreat is organized by Les Amis d’Ajatananda Ashram, which is a non-profit organization registered under the French 1901 Law on Associations, and is only allowed to organize events for its members.
Membership, which is legally required to participate in its activities, will contribute to support the Ajatananda Ashram and the activities of Swami Atmananda.
- Standard membership: €20
- Supporting membership: €30
If you are not yet a member, you will be able to subscribe to the Association’s annual membership for 2022 directly in the Registration form. In this case, your membership will be valid through all 2023.
Teaching
The teachings are offered on a conscious donation basis.
All of the programs organized by the Ashram in India and Europe are offered free of charge. Ajatananda Ashram is a non-profit organization and, as such, depends entirely on donations to cover day to day expenses. If you feel inspired to help the Ashram promote its activities in the field on non-dual teaching and interreligious dialogue, you are most welcome to do so by using the Donation Box during the retreat. You can also make a donation online.
All contributions are greatly appreciated and received with deep gratitude.
Simultaneous translation
The teachings will be in French and English with simultaneous translation into English and French.
We apologize, but unfortunately the Italian translation will not be available this time due to unpredictable circumstances.
PLEASE NOTE: To be able to follow the translation, you will need your smartphone. Remember to take earphones or headphones with you and install the VLC Media Player application in advance (follow these links: for smartphone or iPhone).
Please come to the introductory evening on Friday 16th at 8:30 p.m. in order to have time to set up your smartphone.
Cancellation
1 – Cancellation on our part
In case of cancellation on our part due to force majeure reasons, you will be fully refunded.
2 – In the event of cancellation on your part (to be notified by e-mail)
More than 1 week before the start of the programme:
Half of the total amount paid will be refunded, if we receive your cancellation email by the 9th of December at the latest, i.e. one week before the start of the Retreat. For cases of force majeure, all except the administrative fees will be refunded.
Less than 1 week before the start of the programme:
No refund is possible, except for force majeure reasons, in which case all except the administrative fees will be refunded.
All refunds will be processed no later than one month after the end of the Retreat.
After the Retreat has begun:
After the program has started, no refund will be possible.
You may consider purchasing personal travel insurance to cover the trip.